Parachute attachment for aeroplanes



Dec. 6, 1932. 1... R. PAPP 1,890,190

PARAGHUTE ATTACHMENT FOR AEROPLANES Filed Dec. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Dec. 6, 1932 1,890,190

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS R. PAPP, F CLEVELAND, OHIO PABACHUTE ATTACHMENT FOB AEROPLANES Application filed December 24, 1931. Serial No. 583,100.

This invention relates to certain new and compartment having a bottom wall 8 and a useful improvements in parachute attachperpendicular surrounding side wall 9. ment for aeroplanes. The parachute comprises a centrally dis- The primary object of the invention is to posed ring 10 and. a cap plate 11 disposed H 5 provide a parachute at achment for aeroabove the ring and normally spaced therefrom planes wherein the parachute that is nor by the interposed coil spring 12. Aplurality mally housed within the fuselage of the aeroof ribs 13 are pivotally connected at their plane adjacent the upper side and forward inner ends as at 14: to the cap plate 11 and end thereof is manually releasable for proradiate from said cap plate, the outer ends 1O jection above the aeroplane to aid in suspenof the ribs 13, each being engaged with a sion of the aeroplane and gradual descent ring 1.5,tl1e several rings at the outer ends thereof should the aeroplane motor fail to of the ribs 13 being connected byhorizontaloperate or should descending movement in ly disposed coil springs 16. Each ring 15 a perpendicular path be desired. has pivotallyconnected thereto a pair of P A further object of the invention is to downwardly diverging rods 17 with thevadprovide a parachute attachment for aerojacent lower ends of adjacent pairs of planes of the umbrella character embodying rods 17 pivotally connected to a ring 18, beribs or links and spring devices for maintween which rings horizontally disposed coil 9 taining the parachute in extended condition springs 19 extend. The lower ringslS each k and for the spring projection thereof from have a rod 20 pivotally connected thereto a carrying compartment Within the fuselage and depending therefrom with the lower ends of the aeroplane. 0f the rods 20 of pairs of rings 18 connected With the above and other objects in view to a ring 21- that is carried by a chain 22 that will become apparent as the nature of anchored at its lower end as at 23 to the botthe invention is better understood, the same tom wall 8 of the parachute compartment.

consists in the novel form, combination and The rib, rod and spring structure of the paraarrangement of parts hereinafter more fully chute frame is retained in a concentric posidesrcibed, show in the accompanying drawtion relative to the center ringlO the radial ings and claimed. ribs 24 pivot-ally connected at the r inner ends In the drawings as at 25 to the ring 10 While the1r outer ends Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an are pivotally connected as at 26 to clamps 27 aeroplane equipped with the parach te an carried by the outer ends of the r1bs 13. The tachment; fabric covering 28 for the parachute. frame Figure 2 is a top plan View of th para, is anchored as at 29 to the cap plate 11,.the chute with the parachute cover removed to cover lncluding a depending apron 30 from illustrate the links, rod and spring structure which ty1n anchor straps 31 depend for atof the parachute; and tachment to the rings 21 at the lower ends of Figure 3 is a. vertical longitudinal sectional the rods view taken on line 33 of Figure 2, showing As shown more clearly 111 g i relathe parachute in extended osition above the tively large helical spring 32 1s supported at fuselage f th a ro l n its lower larger end upon the mounting plate Referring more in detail to the accom- 33 upon the bottom wall 8 of the parachute panying drawings, the reference numeral 5 compartment while its upper smaller end is designates the fuselage of an aeroplane prosecured to the ring 1 the r g 32 and 12 q vided with the usual landing gear, rudder operating to pro1ect the parachute from the w and elevating mechanism. the cockpit 6 for compartment in the fuselage and for descendthe pilot and the forwardly positioned proing the parachute body to fully extended popeller 7. The upper side of the fuselage 5 sition. forwardly of the cockpit 6 is provided with The means for confining the parachute in w a compartment for housing a parachute, the collapsed form within the compartment of the fuselage comprises a main central cord 34 disposed centrally of the helical spring 32 and passing through an opening in a guide bar 35 arranged intermediate the upper and lower ends of the spring 32, the pull cord 34 passing through the ring 10 and anchored at its upper end as at 36 to the cap plate 11. The lower end of the pull cord 34 passes through an opening in the bottom Wall 8 of the parachute compartment and is directed over a guide pulley 37 with a ring 38 interposed in the length thereof, the outer end 34a of the pull cord carrying a ring 39 for-attachment to a hook 4O utilized as illustrated in Figure 3 whenrthe parachute is in an extended position. Additional pull cords 41 are disposed at theouter sides of the spring '32, passing through openings in the guide frame35 with their upper endsattached as at42 to the ring 10while their lower ends .pass through openings in the bottom wall 8 .of the parachute compartment to be directed over guide rollers 43 for mergence with the pull cord 34- at the underside of the parachute compartment whereby a' pull upon the cord section 34a operates the pull cords 34 and 41.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, it being noted that when the parachute is in the collapsed and confined position in the parachute compartment as illustrated in Figure 1, the ring 38 is engaged with the hook disposed in the cockpit 6 of the fuselage for convenient operation by the pilot, the parachute cover 28 then forming a part ofthe upper wall of the fuselage overlying the parachute compartment. When it is desired to release and extend the parachute, the ring 38 is disengaged from the hook 40 and the springs 32' and 12 automatically project the parachute from the'comnartment within the fuselage to the extended position shown in Figure 3 and at which time the ring 39 upon the null cord section 3411 may be engaged with the hook 40. The ribs, rods and spring structure of the parachute frame maintain the same at all timesln'exioanded conditlon and is to be of a size suflicient to support the weight of the aeroplane during descending movement, the ribs, rods and spring devices "of theparachute frame permit flexibility of movements of the different parts all of which are relatively movable so that injury to the parachute during flight will be eliminated.

The main spring 32 is of a size to insure instant projection of: the parachute from the confining compartment immediately upon release thereof so that no time will be lost in bringing the parachute into operation when occasion requires.

While there is herein shown and described I p the preferred embodiment of the invention,

it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. In a parachute attachment for aeroplanes, a parachute of umbrella formation including a center ring and cap plate, a coil spring interposed therebetween, radial ribs pivoted to the ring and cap plate and arranged in pairs with the outer ends of each pair pivotally connected, horizontally disposed. coil springs connecting the outer ends of the ribs, angularly disposed rods depending from the outer ends of the ribs, horizontal coil springs connecting the lowerends of the rods and means attaching the lower ends of the rods to the aeroplane.

2. In a parachute attachment for aeroplanes, a parachute of umbrella formation including a center ring and cap plate, a coil spring interposed therebetween, radial ribspivoted to the ring and cap plateand arranged in pairs with the outer ends of each pair pivotally connected, horizontally disposed coil springs connecting the outer ends of theribs,a iigularly disposed rods depending fromthe outer ends of the ribs, horizontal coil springs connecting the lower ends of the rods, means attaching the lower ends of the rods to the aeroplane, and a coil spring interposed between the ring and aeroplanefor automatic projection of the parachute to operative position.

ing from the outer ends of the ribs, horizon-' talcoil springs connecting the lower ends of the rods, means attaching the lower ends of the rods to the aeroplane, a coil spring interposed between the ring and aeroplane for automatic projection of the narachuteftooperative position, and pull cords for retracting the parachute into inoperative position, In testimony whereof I afliX my signature. 7

' I LOUIS R. PAPP. 

